THE First Minister has been accused of “complacency” over the impact on Welsh mothers-to-be who face up to a two-hour journey to hospital in England under proposed changes to health services.

Montgomeryshire currently has most of its major health needs met over the border in England by the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital (RSH) in Shropshire.

But under plans out for public consultation, care for pregnant women would be concentrated 60 miles away at Telford’s Princess Royal Hospital.

Mick Bates, Montgomeryshire’s Assembly Member, said: “The First Minister Carwyn Jones continues to argue that this is an England-only issue and that the Labour- Plaid Government does not need to engage in the consultation. This is simply wrong.

“I am extremely disappointed that despite my repeated requests, the Welsh Government refuses to engage at any level to examine the strategic impact on Welsh services of proposed changes to hospital services by the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust. In every consultative meeting I have attended regarding the changes, Welsh patients were astounded that the Welsh Government is exhibiting such total lack of concern for their health.

“It totally ignores the fact that Powys Teaching Health Board spends £21m each year with Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust for the provision of acute services for North Powys.”

The First Minister, however, claimed the issue of reorganisation across the border is a matter for the UK Government. “We continue to expect that the protocols that are in place between NHS England and NHS Wales are respected, to ensure that patients from Wales are not disadvantaged if their treatments require them to cross the border,” said Mr Jones.

Montgomeryshire Community Health Council said the lives of Welsh patients could be put at risk if key health services are moved to a hospital up to 60 miles away. It said the total journey time for an expectant mother in labour, living in Llanidloes – one of the towns affected – to Telford, would take up to two hours. Telford is an extra 15 miles away from Shrewsbury and a 25-minute drive.

The Liberal Democrats say they have collected 3,000 names on a petition to keep the services in Shrewsbury.